Definitions for x-rayˈɛksˌreɪ

This page provides all possible meanings and translations of the word x-ray

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

X ray, X-ray, X-radiation, roentgen ray(noun)

electromagnetic radiation of short wavelength produced when high-speed electrons strike a solid target

roentgenogram, X ray, X-ray, X-ray picture, X-ray photograph(verb)

a radiogram made by exposing photographic film to X rays; used in medical diagnosis

x-ray(verb)

examine by taking x-rays

x-ray(verb)

take an x-ray of something or somebody

"The doctor x-rayed my chest"

GCIDE(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

X-ray(n.)

Originally, any of the rays produced when cathode rays strike upon surface of a solid (as a copper target or the wall of the vacuum tube); now defined as electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of 0.1 to 10 nanometers. X-rays are noted for their penetration of many opaque substances, as wood and flesh, their action on photographic plates, and their fluorescent effects. They were called X rays by their discoverer, W. K. R

X-ray(v. t.)

To examine by means of X-rays; to irradiate with X-rays.

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

X-ray(Noun)

Short wavelength electromagnetic radiation usually produced by bombarding a metal target in a vacuum. Used to create images of the internal structure of objects; this is possible because X-rays pass through most objects and can expose photographic film.

X-rays are light with a wavelength between 0.1 and 10 nm.

X-ray(Noun)

A radiograph: a photograph made with X-rays.

"The doctor ordered some X-rays of my injured wrist."

X-ray(Verb)

To take a radiograph of; to obtain an image of using X-ray radiation, especially for the purpose of medical diagnostic evaluation.

Of course there was nothing wrong with my left wrist. They X-rayed the wrong arm!

X-ray(Adjective)

Of or having to do with X-rays.

I had to put my bags through an X-ray scanner at the airport.

Origin: Transliteration of X-Strahl, coined by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen upon his discovery of the rays in 1895, x signifying their unknown nature.

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

X-ray

X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 100 eV to 100 keV. The wavelengths are shorter than those of UV rays and longer than those of gamma rays. In many languages, X-radiation is called Röntgen radiation, after Wilhelm Röntgen, who is usually credited as its discoverer, and who had named it X-radiation to signify an unknown type of radiation. Spelling of X-ray in the English language includes the variants x-ray and X ray.
X-rays with photon energies above 5-10 keV are called hard X-rays, while those with lower energy are called soft X-rays. Due to their penetrating ability hard X-rays are widely used to image the inside of objects, e.g. in medical radiography and airport security. As a result, the term X-ray is metonymically used to refer to a radiographic image produced using this method, in addition to the method itself. Since the wavelengths of hard X-rays are similar to the size of atoms they are also useful for determining crystal structures by X-ray crystallography. By contrast, soft X-rays are easily absorbed in air and the attenuation length of 600 eV X-rays in water is less than 1 micrometer.−11